Theatrical-scenery device.



C. W. SMITH.

THEATRICAL SCENERY DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 2. 1914.

Patented July 27, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

WH n mow X Q COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CO" WASHINGTON, D. C.

C. W. SMITH.

THEATRICAL SCENERY DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 2,1914.

1,147,823; PatentedJuly 27, 1915.

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v T TA I S PATENT @FFTQE.

CHARLES W. SMITH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

THEATRIGAL-SGENERY DEVICE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CrIARLEs W. SMITH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Theatrical-SceneryDevices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to theatrical scenery, and one of the principalobjects of the invention is to provide a plurality ofpairs of rotatedmembers of triangular cross section, each member in a pair having ascene painted on three of its sides, and each pair being mounted so thatthe triangular elements are rotated to bring into view three differentscenes represented upon the different sides, and a number of these pairsof devices being used to set a stage.

Another OuJeCt of this invention is to provide a plurality of scenesrepresented upon the triangular sides of rotated elements, said elementsbeing-mounted in pairs, and a number of the pairs being used torepresent certain scene as an entirety, said elements being readilyrotated to present another scene to view, whenever required, and therotated elements being covered with canvas and the scenes paintedthereon with translucent paint, and electric lights being mounted insidethe elements so that different scenic efi'ects will be produced. Stillanother object of the invention is to provide a set of scenes mountedupon triangular elements which are rotated in pairs to change the scenesand said triangular elements being readily folded fiat for shippingpurposes.

These and other objects may be attained by means of the constructionillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pair of triangular rotated elements,made in accordance with thisinvention, and showing a portion of anexterior scene or wood scene represented upon one of the three sidesthereof. Fig. 2 is a view looking into the interior of one of thetriangular frames with the canvas scene removed. Fig. 3 is a sectionalview of the top or upper portion of one of the elements, Fig. 4 is atransverse sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2, Fig. 5 is adiagram showing one manner in which the stage may be set with the pairsof rotated elements, and Fig. 6 is a Specification of Letters Patent.patentedJuly 27, 1915 Application filed July 2, 1914. Serial No.848,663.

top plan View of one of the triangular frames folded.

Referringto the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a triangular plate,which may be suitably braced at each angle and mounted centrally in the.said plate is a rod 2 having a socket 3 in its lower. end. A telescopicmember 4 is mounted at its upper end in the socket 3, and at thelowerend of the member 4 is a similar triangular plate 5. Diagonal braces 6extend ,fromthe plate 5 to the piece of canvas 11 is connected to theframe by suitable fastenings 12. Extending vertically from the side ofthe triangular frame are bars 13, which are mitered together at thecorners as shown, and suitable hinges lt connect the flat sides of thetriangular element together, as shown more clearly in Fig. 6, and thuspermit the triangular elements to be folded fiat to occupy but littlespace when required to be shipped.

Stretched and secured smoothly on the three sides of the triangularelement, are canvas back ground surfaces 15 on which may be painted withtranslucent paint three different scenes, one representing a woods as at16, and the other sides representing interior or exterior scenes as isrequired. It will be understood of course, that any suitable scenery maybe applied to the sur faces 15, depending upon the character of the playin which the scenes are to be used.

Connected to the upper triangular plate 1 of each of the pairs, is acrossbar 16, similar to the bar 10. Supported on said bar at each end isa sprocket wheel 17 and extending around each sprocket wheel in the pairis a drive chain 18. The sprocket wheel 17 is mounted upon a suitabledisk 19, and a boss 20 is mounted on the upper side ofthe sprocketwheel, said boss, sprocket wheel and plate being perforated or providedwith an opening 21 through which electric light 1}.

conductors 22 extend, the inner ends ofsaid conductors having electriclight bulbs 23 connected thereto.

The triangular plates 5 provided with the casters 7 are held stationaryWhen the scene is set. The casters are for the purpose of moving thetriangular members up stage when not required for use. The triangularil'lg'painted in translucent paint, When the footli'ghts are turneddovvnto darken the stage "and the light 23 ignited, thetranslucent"scene is given an entirely different transparent effect, sothat with a full set of the'triangular elements, six separate anddistinct scenes may be produced Asshovvn in Fig. 5, the numeral adesignates the fdotlights and]; represents a pair ofthe triangularrotated elements having a scene'pai'nted on each of the three sides, asalready de'scribed,and may be arranged as shown or otherwise in: orderto give the desired effect. h i i In order to bridge the vertical spacebetweenthe triangular sections, strips a of flexible material, likerubber or canvas, may be'seeured tothe edge of one of the triangularsections to extend over to the other.

Various changes in the details of construction may be resorted toWithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as definedin the claims.

Vliat is claimed 'is:'

1. In a device of the character described, the combination of triangularsupportsand separate scenery frames mounted on said supports andconnected together by hinges so they canbe folded flat for shipping.

2, A theatrical scenery device comprising a pair of triangular supports,one'of said supports forming a base, a socket member connected to saidbase support, a stud mounted in said socket, frames mounted on saidtriangular supports, said" frames being hinged together so that they maybe folded flat for shippingf 7 Intestimony whereof I afiix my signaturein presence of two Witnesses.

' p CHARLES W. SMITH.

Witnesses:

' CLAUDE S. OTTMAN,

WILLIAM OTTMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner 0! Patents, WashingtomIhG. i i

